Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1887-04-02

sova.o s: na. more rigid and
confs s u1scipiine of the prisoners such A
~, n,,k 'nem to their cells, taking from
,han, "eaus OF amusement, compelling
r,o, " Aeep themselves and their cells in
whaIa January condition, feeding them with
wholesome but with the plainesr and s;na,n..
KIND OF food, making their conenanapp,
punishment so far as it can be d,na con.;.,
.ent with the claims of humanity. and ,h.n
ADJUST such scale of prices for hoard ha.ed
~ Spon me number of prisoners in Jail as would
&c ample 10 provide for their need and Give a
al compensation to the jailer, are the onlv
ne"ue ho" available to lessen their nnmher
.,, ieuuce expenses and to this end thew
WI, unite tneir efforts with those of Jailer
ana Prison Inspectors with muoh confdonoa
of success" confluence
ihese recommendations we heartily en-.
1orse. We submit that even more shonld h.
uone. II prisoners were uniformed mn,
Snaer discipline approaching that of the
S ? rrisoh, deprived OF their PLAYING card.
~ kept separate and apart, not allowed to
concourse with each other. locked in their
oe.s "hen not at work, and other measures
49, W! humane, taken to make this institu-
..on jail instead of Retreat" these
Ta e.' would Keep away from this county
LUZ: .e cosl Oh an inside guard (say $500 armed
with repeating rifle to enforce discinI;ne a.
at Ihomaston would be a paving investment
Inc municipal authorities of Augusta will
cooperate with the county in maintaining a
stohe-yard where the time of these gentle
men OF leisure can be proftably EMPLOYED in
s'uuying geology and breaking rocks to i'm
prove the highways of the city. We are
satisned that the people would endorse the
Il. cessary expense to try the experiment.
ne JAN inspectors have authority to order
all prisoners under sentence to Jail in
sohe otner county where work will be pro.
vlded. 1t will be their duty to do this unless
change is made.
The professional tramp has conscientious
scruples against work. Cloihe him in uni
form, (and the Inspectors assure US the an.
nual expense would be slight put him under
strlct dlcipline, compel him to work even no
harder than the honest tax PAYERS who now
support him in idleness, and this great evil
Will be stopped. This reduces the cost of
arrests, trials, commitments, conveyance and
board. 1t should be remembered that serv-
ing snort sentences, the same tramp by fire.
quent arrests causes expense in many
directions. We recommend nothing in
humane, but we see no reason why criminals
inside of Jail should fare better and enjuy
life more than honest men outside. The
amount of real crime in Kennebec county is
small. Properly enforced the fines received
under the liquor law should nearly meet the
cost.
The arrest for other crimes, even for
drunkenness, wnen confined to our own citi-
zens, would be few. The tramp nuisance is
the real leak. They have been driven from
other countries by more or less of the means
here recommended. We fine that the County
Commissioners have ample authority under
the law to adopt and put in force all the
recommendations in their and this report
The people will cheerfully bear the expense.
We have no doubt the JaiIer will cheertully
cooperate with them in the experiment.
The figures in this report, subject to liza
bility to error in hasty computations, can be
verified in the county report for 1886 We
acknowledge our indebtedness to the Jail
Inspectors, County Treasurer, County Com
missioners. and jailor for use of their records
reports &C., in compiling this report. Signed,
II. NJ. HEATH,
p. s. HEAD, Committee.
GUsrAvUs MOORE,
AUGUSTA, March Is, 1887.
At meeting of the Kennebec Delegation,
March 10Th, the following votes were passed:
Voted, That the foregoing report be &C.
cepted, and that all its recommendation be
Endorsed and approved
Voted, That in the judgement of the Dele
CATION the board of prisoners should be fixed
at SIZE per week when the number is 25 or
under, for each prisoner above 20 or less
than so, Sl.25, and for each prisoner above
so, 81 90; aud we advise action to that effect.
Voted, That the daily and weekly papers
of Kennebec county be requested to publish
the foregoing report and these votes.
GEO. A. RUSSELL, oeth. c.ot.
II. M. HEATH,
IRA II. RANDALL,
GUsTAvUs MOORE,
J. H. MANLEY,
ENoCH ADAMS,
r. ALDEN,
p. S. HEAD, OF the
G. + WARREN, House.
WIN. S. BRADLEY,
GEO. B. PRAY,
G. p. H. JEwErT,
MARTIN l.. REYNOLDS,
CHAs. RUSSELL.